New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-22
THE RAFT MUST BE FOUND.
CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT FOR AID.
u.xorv,c rs NOW on THE SEA LOOKING FOR

,1o ,tcamcr Miranda of the Nantucket South
sbore IJrhtshp will not long be LEFT to tumble ana
toss an tho sea- constant menace to haVlsa'ioh win
.nac,,v for destruction and disaster only limited
nv ifs field of action. Three separate expeditions
havo with commcndablc haste been organized to ind
the unwIedy craft, ana II possible to tow It TO place
NJ safety Following the instructions OF the tecre-
tarv of the Navy, based upon the request OF the MARI
tlmo Exchange, the naval vessel Enierprze has al
ready departed for the place where the raft was last
secn as indicated by the log Of the Miranda. The
rovcnue cutter Grant has also been ordered TO join
I'm the search by the Secretary Of the Treasury and
tho third venture IS due to the owner of the raft,
lanes. d. ieary 1t IS expected that both Of the lat
ter will be we'll under way sofnctlme this morning.
The story Of the missing raft was charming topic
OF discussion among he members Of the Maritime tx
change and the old salts from whose venerable eA
pericncc no such thrilling scaalc could be conjurcd
up The drift OF the talk centred Of course, upon the
relations Of the raft TO the merchant marine ana inc
probable efforts be put forth TO capture the unruy
craft before Il had battered itself against passenger
or freight vessel with disastrous effect. The promP'
action of he superintendent Of the Maritime Exchange
in urging the secretary Of the Navy to use all ncces
sary mean, towards securing the raft was warmly
commended. and a general feeling of relief came WITH
the announcement that the secretary Of the Navy
had taken prompt action I'm ordering ont VesSe from
the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Tho feeling was increased
TO a condition OF hlarty when 1t became known that
the revenue cutter Grant would also engage I'm the
search and these two. together with the vessel char
tered by the owner were depended upon to minimize
the danger and TO protect American commerce
The Maritime Exchange Of Philadelphia also trans
mted IFS congratulations 60 the Ncw-Nork Exchange
on It's prompt action in a matter which has become
of vital interest to all ports.
POSSIBILITY OF A GENERAL BREAKUP.
The poSsibn ty of a general breakup Of the mass
was considered to be fully dangerous to the ship
MING interests original craft and much relief.
therefore. gained from the assurance of the in
ventor, Hugh II. Robertson. that there IS but one
chance in 1000 that the raft Will break into pieces.
lie cllms that by peculiarly In the construction
Of the raft The chains and witheS which secure the
tlmbers scIaI ately and in the mass, become tighter
and l@orc binding with The constant pressure of The
overyinS lo.s. and with the natural process of widen
ing
TBIBUNE reporter called on James n. Lcary. the
cheerful owner Of mass Of lost timber which is wider
and larger than the Great Eastern and questioning
him concerning his plans TO secure the raft received
this reply; al am going to examine thc steamer
Morse from Bath. Me- early tomorrow Thursday
morning. at my yards foot of North siXthst.. BROOK
Ign. If find her in fit condition viii send her ont
immediately. Captain LttcGold VIII represent my
interests on the vessel. and Mr. Robertson Will 60
along to attend to the practical details in capturing
the monster The Morse is a brand new steamer just
in IFS third month. has twice the power Of the Nj
The crew Will number about twenty" Mr. Leary re
itcracd the statements which he made TO the reporter
on Tuesday night. and said that he shoud certainly
hold the Miranda and its owners responsible for the
loss.
PLACING THE RESPONSIBILITY.
In the fist place, they failed 10 perform their con
irac and we're about two weeks late in getting 20 the
raft. Then they inSuficently stocked with ma
chincry. OIL and provisions. and it became question
Of abandon or starvc. Tho captain was scared and
seemed oaly too glad to cut away from the raft" Mr
Ieary is not at all discouraged although lac considers
II sad experience TO lose the raft almost in sight of
its destination. especially after two years Of watn-
and construction.
The chief vquc Of the scheme said hr. lies ia
Its economy. both Of money and material can save
an immense amount on the freight charges. and be-
sides enlarge my cargo. not only in tie mum
lcr Of pieces of timber but in the size some Of tn
timbcfS in the at couin't possibly BE- slowed 10
vessel
As to the possibility Of towing the raft To Liverpool
he said THAT plan viii d'pcud on the actual Iosi.
tion OF the raft II my men deem 81 advisable. The
slft viii 90 TO Liverpool. where VIII command three
times p much money a. il would i'm williamsburg"
and The owner of the lost lcviathau rubbed lis hands
in pccunary glee. which tie reporter couldn't shar"
Nor rn1GurrNrD ~ rHerAre.
Tie firm Of Eovrine * Archibald. so. r. broadway.
are not alarmed O,cr NJ. Leay's thmal 20 recover
damage. which they consider to be humorous display
on his par, Nh Twecdy. representing the firm sal:
eve a;tach no Significance 10 such statements. lc
cause We feel that the contract and ihr evidence
(polnting 20 big scrarbooJ VIII fully project u, TIE
Only specific statemcu; which hr maLs. 10 tlc elect
that the Ship was almost without oil and provisions,
We meet with a specific denial. and ,ui-:an,iafe
it when the occasion demand, It. We cXIcc' 80 lc-
cover ahcu' $500 in towing charges. and can see D"
reason Why We shouldn't get IT, our connection with
the affair So far thu recovery is involved has ceased
on the Abandonment by the Miranda. which VII! on
Saturday resume It's usual trip 10 Halifax and II
John7
Ii was the prevailing opinion at the iXchaner
that this season Of the year E, the worst ;ha'
could be chosen for the venture. Al aiy
time from MAY 10 october the scheme ml-hi hc sue
ce,sful in which event the demand Tor sailing vessel
cargoes Viii De greatly altered and shipping men Mil
have new problem 10 consider
4 few incoming vessels have gltrd The raf' in tie
ncighboI hood Of Block Island. sri port tha' g. is az
lalcnjiy intact, ana a. guici a. a uained whale
ORDERING 4 VESSEL. FROM The NAVY YARD.
RearAdmlral GAciardi received orders from the
secrctafy # th Navy yesterday afternoon T. dispatch
vessel e. once to search for the raft and at pm Com
maudcr NcCalla, Of TIE man Of war Enterprise was
Informed bv the Adula! that hi, ship had been 81
lcctcd for this interesting BIT Of scryc'. and p para
tons were Immediately begun ia male the Enterprise
ready f,r sea She is "a lnc vessel II 1870 tons
displacement. has 700 horse power and caA steam
eleven knots an hour
Commander McCalla Wa seen on Loall ~ report
cr and said tina, he expected 10 SAL about s. }. ln
He wonid 20 out through the sound aud steer 0lcct
for tho place indicated b. The captain ~ tie Miranda
- the siot here bee abandoned the ldf. tn Inter
mise viii cruise about n q zig zde c"ui,c ih i4- gen
stal direction OF prevailing currents. Wht j. ilr com
maudcr saws is toward the northwest. ana II Sis sue
Feeds in finding the raft viii endeaNor 10 TO" t iIo
morn. For this purpose jiHch sir. ha">cf lHD
iaiLoBi, In Icn-ln and Two extra 'nrt mania
hawsc, were taken aboard The strength 1T the s'ccl
hawser is equal 10 thai OF a 1o-inch mania.
so SALVAGE FNPTCrIN
The Information given by the captain Of ~ Miranda
has peen supplemented by the reports uaoe b5 several
oLe, incoming steamers, which 10 tn eject that
tl.e rlsvaung wind, since saturday have been hoin
the southwest and west